Renting a wheel chair on site

[kassonvike]

Anyone have experience (positive or negative) with renting a wheel chair at Disney World. My mother in law is not getting around quite as well as she used to so she agreed to renting a wheel chair this trip. Our plan is to just rent it on site. We are staying at contemporary and should be fine getting to and from transportation. Her mobility is still good, just not sure about the endurance. Anyway, I tried to talk her into electric scooter (or whatever they are called) but she wanted nothing to do with those. I think she is afraid to drive them or that she might hit someone. It may also be that she doesn't want the pain of getting it off an on buses which I can kind of understand. Anyway, are we crazy planning to push a wheel chair around for 9 days? There will be 3 other adults and 2 older kids to help so I don't think we are going to wear anyone out. Are the on site wheel chairs decent enough quality? Thanks for any insight.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Anyone have experience (positive or negative) with renting a wheel chair at Disney World. My mother in law is not getting around quite as well as she used to so she agreed to renting a wheel chair this trip. Our plan is to just rent it on site. We are staying at contemporary and should be fine getting to and from transportation. Her mobility is still good, just not sure about the endurance. Anyway, I tried to talk her into electric scooter (or whatever they are called) but she wanted nothing to do with those. I think she is afraid to drive them or that she might hit someone. It may also be that she doesn't want the pain of getting it off an on buses which I can kind of understand. Anyway, are we crazy planning to push a wheel chair around for 9 days? There will be 3 other adults and 2 older kids to help so I don't think we are going to wear anyone out. Are the on site wheel chairs decent enough quality? Thanks for any insight.

just remember that park rental wheelchairs can not be used to get to transportation at end of day at park. that can be a long walk with no seating while in line. I say this as an older adult and we seem to always end up with last bus line at the parks add to this it can be a distance from bus stop at resort to your room. I would have the phone number of at least one offsite rental site in case plan does not work as planned. I would not plan on walking the path to MK and MK is the last stop from Contemporary on the monorail

 

[kassonvike]

Yea, she definitely plans to use monorail to MK. Good advice having a rental place figured out in advance just in case.

 

[Mrsjvb]

rent from off site. Will be less expensive and can have it with her at all times

 

[loves to dive]

My mom had Lupus and in her later years could not walk a lot so we always rented one for her. She could walk to the monorail no problem just all day walking would have been too much. Our only problem with it was a few times people "borrowed" it when it was parked if she was on a ride or say inside the Mexico pavilion. Evidently it happens often because Disney never blinked an eye when I would have to go get another one. We also rented a stroller every once in awhile for my son. He hated strollers but when he was just shy of 3 after most of the day of walking he was just too tired for words so I would run rent one for the end of the day. We just didn't want to be bothered having to tote around Mom's wheelchair onto and off of the monorail or a stroller.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I rented an ECV last year at the parks and DS as it was just before a TKR. They are easy to drive and you take the key with you, so no one can borrow it. No one has to push her around. I have a feeling once she tries it she won't believe what she was missing. I was very hesitant but it gave me the freedom to enjoy the parks with my family like everyone else. Maybe you can get her to try one at the supermarket early some morning? Good luck!

 

[ChimCher-ee]

We've rented scooters and wheelchairs for my mom. We used a service that delivered them to the hotel on our arrival day and picked them up after we left. Both were fine--and it was only me pushing the wheelchair, no one to share the job. I think overall I preferred the wheelchair because my mom did have trouble stopping the scooter in time to avoid bumping people in crowds and had trouble driving onto the buses.

Our last trip, though, we actually borrowed a wheelchair at home. There are gaps in wheelchair service in the airport, for example, especially on the return trip when the magical express drops you off at MCO. It's a long walk to find wheelchair service from that location, and if long stretches of walking are a problem, that's a rough way to end the trip. It may be different when the bus service goes away--not sure where ride-sharing drops you off. But still, consider asking at your church or senior center about borrowing a wheelchair from home.

 

[holden]

I'd rent a scooter. We rented a wheelchair for my dad and it became very tiring pushing it around all day.

 

[kathy884]

That's a shame that she doesn't want anything to do with an ECV. They are so nice for the independence that they offer for a full day at the park and not needing someone to push you around. They are great for storing stuff too (purses and back packs).

I think you have enough people that you will be OK with the wheel chair, but really and truly the ECV is so worth the extra monies and they are super easy to get the hang of.

I will be taking my dad (85) who has mobility issues and only walks short distances on a trip to Orlando for Flower and Garden in March of 2022. We'll do two days at Epcot and two days at SeaWorld and rent the ECVs for him at the parks for these four days. The other two days we are visiting relatives and he won't need one. The ECVs just work out so great. He has used these many times for parks in Orlando and they make for a wonderfully pleasant day for him. You might want to post on the disabilities forum. Although it's more expensive than doing a week rental, but since my dad only needs the ECVs in the parks, doesn't want to deal with them when not at the parks (we will be staying offsite in a condo and have a rental car), he prefers just getting them for each park day he does and turning them in at the end of the day. We just look at it as an expense of going to the parks when you have less endurance, but what a total joy to get to go with dad. Can't wait for him to see Flower and Garden (He's really big on that kind of stuff), and we have never been to Epcot for that. It's a true blessing to be able to have fun and vacation with older relatives. You never know what the future will bring, so we want to take advantage of every opportunity to have great extended family time.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dad agreed to rent a scooter and it was great. He rented in the parks so no need to deal with the buses. Since he used nothing at home he was fine walking yo the buses since he was well rested. We rode the train at the end of a day so sent DH to go get the scooter, he enjoyed riding it!

 

[scrapquitler]

just remember that park rental wheelchairs can not be used to get to transportation at end of day at park. that can be a long walk with no seating while in line. I say this as an older adult and we seem to always end up with last bus line at the parks add to this it can be a distance from bus stop at resort to your room. I would have the phone number of at least one offsite rental site in case plan does not work as planned. I would not plan on walking the path to MK and MK is the last stop from Contemporary on the monorail

When you return the wheelchair at the park exit, you can exchange it for a parking lot wheelchair, which you can use to get to your car, or take to/on the Monorail.

 

[piccolopat]

Years ago, we rented a scooter for my MIL and it was a disaster for her. She was so afraid of running into people (who inevitably walked right in front of her) that it was taking us forever to get anywhere. We opted to turn it in for a wheelchair and that was much better. Last year, DH & I went with DD and DSIL to Epcot and AK. DSIL is disabled due to a back injury. A scooter would have been difficult for him to get on and off and it took us time but eventually he agreed to rent a wheelchair. I was the designated driver because DH had a hernia and DD just found out she was expecting. DSIL was about 100 pounds heavier than me and so it was a bit of a challenge on some of the hills but I did fine.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

When you return the wheelchair at the park exit, you can exchange it for a parking lot wheelchair, which you can use to get to your car, or take to/on the Monorail.

I have never had any lucking getting one but yes it is supposed to work that way. once they go to where ever they dont get back in a timely manner from what I have seen. same is true from the parking lot to the gate at MK.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

If your mother is intimidated by the idea of an ECV, may I suggest that you rent one for a day at home. Select an area where the walking surface is good, as the pavement and curb cuts in WDW are very well maintained and scooter friendly. Take a walk with her (driving) outdoors, and, if possible, inside a good-sized mall. She may just surprise herself and love it! My 89 yr old mother fell in love within an hour, of being on WDW property. Of course, she was also a very experienced driver who really has missed the independence of driving herself. A big and most justified fear emerged quickly... tight crowds, particularly after dark. We developed a couple simple solutions - she could walk, as she still had plenty of energy and one of us would drive the scooter OR we would slip it in neutral and DH & I pushed it from either side while she sat back and didn’t have to worry.

A wheelchair is really not a bad thing to have along, as it can be pushed empty (except for all the stuff you may want to heap on it!!!) and your mother could take a ride as required. A lightweight, easily collapsed model doesn’t require much effort while using Disney transportation.

A third option for you might be a combination walker/transport chair. These are really neat. One would provide stability and support for your mom if she pushed it, a ready seat whenever she tired, and can convert to a transport chair so she could be pushed as needed. The downside is that they only have the small wheels, making them harder to push, and more sensitive to pavement irregularities but they are still quite manageable. We toured CAtalina Island, Disneyland, and other area attractions quite easily, pushing my DM, in a transport chair when she was 94. She missed the ECV, though - LOL - but knew it was a bit beyond her at that point.

You are doing the smartest thing before your trip - research! Deciding on the most practical device for your needs will provide the maximum physical and mental comfort for your whole group. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

 

[Deb & Bill]

She might even want to consider a rollator with a seat if she can walk but just need to be steadier.

 

[CHIPSTER]

You can always ask the bus driver to park the scooter. Many people can't back it in and they have the experience of parking or people and they don't mind. And since you are staying on site the scooter company that Disney partners with will have the scooter waiting for you at the Contemporary and when you check out just surrender the scooter to the valet or bell services out front. Since she is new to the scooter as long as she takes it slow and easy she will be fine,